liiiiiiiffiiliijplffiiiJH;^^ ^0 ^"-■<^ * • • ' \ ' <, 'o . » « G^ '^ "'V. s* ^ <. 'o, .•> ^' .^>^^ v^ ^^^ vO' ^\'Z ^J.^-^ v V <*. ^oV° ^■-0< V ^ ^ ,0- ^ A^ ♦J' <". <^^ - = .0^ ^^ "' *^ aP ^^-^^^ •" ^ ■^ o .3 ^. ~- : aV^. ^0 I c 3> 3v ^0 Inscriptions On The Grave Stones IN THE OLD ^^NEW ENGLAND TOWN" • BURYING GROUND FAIRTON, FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. WITH AN HISTORICAL SKETCH A LIST OF THE SIGNERS OF THE COHANSEY COMPACT 1697 AND THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERSOF FAIRFIELD COMPUTED BY FRANK D. ANDREWS SECRETARY VINELAND HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY Member of the CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY VINEEAND N, J. 1909 PREFACE. About one mile from the village of Fairton, in the township of Fairfield, within a short distance of the highway, near the entrance to a grove of stately trees, is the site of the first Presbyterian Church erected in West Jersey. Within the enclosure, among old oaks and cedars, are the graves of some of the early inhabitants of this region and their immediate descendants. The grave stones are mostly of marble, time stained and gray, but with inscrip- tions legible. They are clustered near the site of the an- cient church, where lies the dust of two former pastors who died in service, or scattered through the grove; with here and there a rough native stone marking the last resting place of some unknown parishioner. In this sequested spot, with no additions to their num- ber for more than one hundred years; these memorials of the life of the eighteenth century, have been well nigh forgotten by the generations who have travelled along the highway, or have sailed upon the river, between which this hallowed ground has so long lain hidden by natures covering of bush and tree. The recurring anniversaries of the founding and set- tlement of our country, has created a very laudable desire to learn more regarding the worthy men and women who laid the foundations of the religious aud civic freedom we now enjoy. y It is but natural our thoughts turn toward those who peopled this part of the county, who they were, and from whence they came. Few, however, of the first to settle within the present boundaries of the county were buried in this early grave yard. Following the cu.stom of the time they were laid at rest in some favored spot about their habitations, where in unmarked and long forgotten graves, their dust has mingled with the earth they once trod, and we may not find them. Some of their descendants, and settlers of a later date, found at last lodgement about the church in which they had worshipped, and congregations of the dead slept without the walls. Such records as these old church yards disclose are worthy of preservation for those interested in the past, who, by their assistance may learn of some distant an- cestor, or add a link to the chain which will unite them with the early settlers and founders of the first church of Fairfield. Frank D. Andrews. ViNEIvAND, N. J. December, 1909. HISTORICAL SKETCH. Among the early New England settlers of West Jersey, were a number of the inhabitants of Fairfield, in Connec- ticut Colony, who Ibcated on the south side of Cohansey River, a dozen miles or more from its entrance into Dela- ware Bay. The exact date of their arrival is unknown, but with characteristic regard for their religious duty or- ganized a church about 1690. Rev. Thomas Bridge, a graduate of Harvard, became their spiritual adviser and teacher; remaining with them until about 1703, when he returned to Boston, where he was pastor of the First Church, from 1705 until his death, September 26, 17 15. May 12, 1697, the New Jersey Assembly duly authori- zed"the former inhabitants of Fairfield in New England," to name the township after their home town in Connec- ticut. Families from other parts of New England, Long Is- land and East Jersey joined the settlers, or found new homes in the vicinity, and the fertile land about the Co- hansey River was early taken up and improved. That the settlers on the Cohansey were of good repute, we are assured by Rev. Jedediah Andrews, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, who called them "the best people in his neighborhood." He pre- vailed upon his Harvard classmate, Rev. Joseph Smith, to become their pastor in 1709. Mr. Smith was soon succeeded by .Samuel Exall. Howell Powell followed him and remained until his death in 1717. Henry Hook 6 HISTORICAI. SKETCH. served from 1718 to 1722. Rev. Noyes Parris, another graduate of Harvard College, preached from 1724 to 1728 or 1729, when Rev. Daniel Elmer, a graduate of Yale College in 1713. began his ministry, which ended only with his death in 1755. Rev. William Ramsey, a gradu- ate of the College of New Jersey, served until he died in 1 77 1. Rev. William Hollingshead was the next pastor, preaching from 1773 to 1783, when he removed , to Charleston, S. C. The first meeting house was of logs, it was replaced by a building of New England pattern, with shingled roof ends and sides. During the ministry of Mr. Hollingshead this was deemed unsafe, and the pulpit and benches were removed to a wide spreading oak near by, where services were held in pleasant weather, until the completion of J the stone church, which still stands about one mile-south. Burials were made in the yard at the new church, and the old burying ground being little used, was neglected, and trees grew among the graves. During the present year, the Presbyterian Synod of New Jersey, erected a granite memorial commemorating the founding of the early church, and perpetuating the memory of the men, who in 1697, bound themselves to "obtain and mainetaine a Sound & Orthodox Ministr of the Gospell to preach the Gospell amongst uss," and they further agreed, "That a school for the teaching of Children to read & write English shall be mainetained from time to time." They agreed to set aside a certain number of acres for the minister who should settle among them, and a like amount for a parsonage. The agreement then made is now known as the "Cohansey Compact," and the names of twenty-six signers are cut upon the monument. In HISTORICAL SKETCH. 7 the body of the agreement the names of John Fairchild and Zachariah Ferris appear among the others, and their names should be preserved with the early settlers of Fairfield. The monument erected at the entrance of the old burying ground bears the following inscription: "IN MEMORY of the true and good men and women who coming in the seventeenth century founded here on the Cohansey, THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN FAIRFIELD. It came under the care of the Presbytery of West Jersey, May 19, 1708. This monument is erected by their descendants and the Presbytery of West Jersey, June 15, 1909. REV. THOMAS BRIDGE WAS THEIR MIN- ISTER." "Signers of Agreement in Fairfield, June 10, 1697." Thomas Jones John Chatfield Jonathan Morehouse John Mills Joseph Seelye Thomas Bennett Joseph Sayre Joseph Smith Robert Dallglesh Thomas Kernes Joseph Wheeler Joshua Curtis Daniel Wescott John Griffin Joseph Grimes Nicholas Johnson John Roberts Michael Hauna Eleazer Smith John Ogden John Bennett Samuel Foster Samuel Bellnap Edward Lummis John Bateman John Smith « HISTORICAI. SKETCH. In addition to the names upon the monument, a partial hst of the heads of families who early settled within the limits of Fairfield township, or immediate vicinity, is here given. Not all were Presbyterians however; some were Friends, others Baptists, and worshipped else- where. A few among the number removed to other set- tlements after a few years residence. Thomas Abbot, died 1718. Thomas and Mary Alderman. Thomas died in 1715. Francis, James, and Samuel Alexander. Ebenezer and Mary Allen. Ebenezer died in 17 16. Robert and Hester Ayars. Removed to Shiloh. Charles Bagley. Samuel Barns. Patience Barns, widow, died in 1716. Jeremiah Bennett. Leonard Berriman. Nathaniel and Sarah Bishop. He died April 24, 1723. John Bishop. Isaac & John Brooks. Josiah Brooks, died about 1732 Henry and Rachel Buck. He died February 1725-6. Henry Buck, Jun., wife Ruth. He died March 1725-6. William Button. William and Patience Clarke. He died about 1702. Captain William Dare. William Dare. Jun. Benjaman Davis. Removed, and settled in Deerfield. Thomas Diament. Anthony Dixson. Died about 1728. Robert Douglas. Joseph and Ann Eastland. Joseph died in 1728. Capt. Ezekiel Eldridge, and wife Sarah. He died 1710 Thomas Fairbanks. John, and Jonathan Fithian. John died about 1702 Samuel and Priscilla Fithian. Samuel died in 1702, HISTORIC A I, SKETCH. ^ Samuel j un. , & Josiah Fithiau, removed to Greenwich. James Fullerlon, Merchant. Died about 1729. Thomas Furbush. He died 1701 or 1702. Garret Garrison. Jacob Garrison, wife Christiana. He died 1708 or 1709. John Garrison. Edmund Gilman, wife Hannah. He died in 1715. John Gilman, Sen., died 1695. Rachel Gihnan, widow of John, died 1695 or 1696. John Green and his wife Ursula. He died in 1696. Stephen Halford. Richard Hancock. He died in 1689. Thomas Harris. Robert Hood. William Johnson and wife Frances. He died in 1694. Hezekiah Lare. Nathan Lorrance. ^-j, Thomas Maskell. Removed to Greenwich, died in 17^2. WilHam and Mary Mulford. William died in 17 19. Joseph and Joyce Newcomb. He died 1732, or 1733. Jeremiah Nixon. He died about 1727. John Nixon. Jonathan Ogden. Richard and Elizabeth Ogden. Richard died in 1726. Samuel Ogden. Removed to Deerfield. Nicholas Osborn. James Padgett. Thomas Parviu. William Paulin. James Peirce. He died in 1694. William and Ruth Pope. He died in 1715. Howell and Elizabeth Powell. He died in 1716. Levi Preston. 10 HISTORICAL SKETCH. Mark Reeve, wife Ann. He died in 1694. Joseph Riley. David Sayre. Ebenezer Sayre. Died 1725 or 1726. Elisha Sayre. Died 1726, probably unmarried. Ephraiui Sayre, wife Sarah. He died in 1715-6. Joseph Sayre, wife Priscilla. He died in 1710. Joseph Sayre, wife Margaret. He died 17 15 or 1716. Benjamin Seely. Ephraim Seelye, wife Mary. He died 1722-3. Edmund Shavy, Sen., wife Rachel. He kept the first inn in Fairfield, as early as 1698. He died in 17 19. John Shaw. William Shattock. Removed to East Jersey. David Shepherd, wife Eve. He died 1695, she in 1710. Dickeson Shepherd. . Enoch Shepherd, wife Elizabeth. He died in 1717. James Shepherd. He died in 1690. James and Eve Shepherd. He died in 17 13. John Shepherd. Died in 17 10. John Shephard. He died in 17 15-6, unmarried. Joseph and Ann Shepherd. He died in 1728. Mary Shepherd. She died in 1713-14. Jonathan Smith. Solomon Smith. Removed to Burlington. Thomas and Ann Smith. He died in 1692. She mar- ried Thomas Yard, who left her a widow in 1695. Benjamin and Mary Stratton. He died in 17 16. Philip and Hannah Vickary. He died in 1703. Joseph Wheeler. Richard and Elizabeth Whitacar. He died about 1709. Richard and Abigail Whitacar. He died in 17 18-9 William Worth. Removed to Shrewsbury. HISTORICAL SKETCH. lOd Other names from early Fairfield documents are: — Abigail, Rebecca and Peter Bateman; Marj' Bowen; Ed ward Burrows; Richard Butcher; Hugh Chard; John Clarke; William Couseus; David Foster; Joseph Hodge; James Hudson; Samuel Hunter; John Jones; Stephen Leek; Restore Lippencott; Richard Mathis; James Moir; John Peirpoint; Israel and William Petty; Joseph Rogers; James Robbenson; Roger Ryderwood; James Silver; Al- exander Smith; Thomas Vaughn; William W^aithman and Samuel Wescott. The settlement of the New England people in Fairfield was early called "New England Town," and "New Eng- land Cross Roads," names now seldom heard. The writer, a native of the state from which so many of the early inhabitants of Fairfield came, is interested in preserving the record of the New England settle- ment along the Cohansey, as well as other parts of Cum- berland County, believing them to be of some historical and genealogical value. Having visited the old cemetery in the woods when its neglect was apparent, it was a pleasant change to find the grounds cleared, so that amid the stately trees the old gravestones could be seen, and the in.scriplions copied for this publication. By comparison with a list printed in the "Bridgeton Chronicle," in 1875, and reprinted in the "Elmer Times," the present year, six stones bearing inscriptions were not found, they have, however, beeti included in the following alphabetical list. These old stones, telling the simple story, that they whom they commemorate once lived and died, are now, with the growing interest in the past, likely to be cared for and preserved. INSCRIPTIONS On the Grave Stones, In the old "New England Town" Burying Ground, Fairton, Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Copied August i8, 1909. Memorial of MR JAMES BOYD who died Dec 23d 1775 Aged 40 Years MARY BOYD Widow of James Boyd who died September 19th A. D. 1812 In the 80th year of her age Love to God and good will to man shone conspicous in her character JAMES BOYD of Philadelphia Merchant Died May 14 1795 Aged 28 Years Be ye all- ways ready Death comes When we expect him not In Memory of JUDITH wife of Ephraim Buck who died March 9 1769 Aged 33 years Here lyes interred the remains of SARAH wife of JAMES BURCH who departed this Life Novr 2 1787 Aged 22 Years Also her infant son The- ophilus who died Jany 11 1788 Aged 2 Months & 11 days depart Bles'd shades to Heaven Here lies the Body of JOHN CLARK who De- parted this Life in the 26th Year of his Age April the ist 1789 In Memory of MARIAH Daughter of Charles & Rachel Clun who Died October 20 1778 Aged I Year II. INSCRIPTIONS. ABIGAIL DATEN died October 20 1774 in the 2d Year of her Age In memory of an Infant Dau tr of David & Ann Dateu who died April 3d 1760 In Memory of EI,I DATEN who died May 9 1775 Aged 23 Years In Memory MR JOSEPH DAYTEN who de parted this Eife the 28th of November Anno Domini 1770 Aged 56 Years In Memory of PRUDENCE DATON deceased who died July 21 1779 ^n 50th Year of her Age In Memory of EOIS DIAMENT Sen. who depart- ed this Life April 21st 1770 in the 67 th Year of her age In Memory of NATHANIEL DIAMENT Sen. who departed this Life April 4 1767 In the 72 Year 01 his Age In Memory of ABIGAIL ELMER relict of Daniel Elmer Esqr dec d who expired with a lingering Consumption July 2d 1770 Aged 54 Years Ab hoc discite hominem In Memorv of the Rev. Mr DANIEL ELMER late Pastor of GHRISTS Church in this Place who departed this Life the 14th Day of January A D 1775 Aged 65 Years In Memory of DANIEL ELMER Esqr who departed this Life May 2d 1761 in the 46 Year of his age In Memory of DANIEL ELMER Esqr who departed this Life June 30 1775 in the 33d Year of his Age INSCRIPTIONS 13 August the ist 1783 the Honourable THE- OPHILUS ELMER ESQ Took leave of time Aged 54 Years In Memory of Theodotia the wife of Theophli Elmer who took exit on the 18 Day of Feb uary Anno Dom: 1765 In the 34 Year of her Age Virtue and Piety Merit Honour and Esteem In Remembrance of Which this Monument is Seen In Memory of MRS EEMER in Youth the Belovd Spouse of Mr J. L. — And now the Changeing scenes of life are past Safety is found in Christ at last by an easy Exit On the 10 Dav of August 1775 in the 48 Year of her Age And in this Local spot Intered only at the request of her Respected of spring Be ye Therefore followers of them who through faith And Patience Inherit the Promise ( On reverse. ) No more shall Anxious care Molest My soft repose and quiet Rest In peaceful Silent yiumber lye Till Jesus rends the Etherial Sky Then quit the Dust arise and shine Adorn 'd with features all Divine In Memory of Mrs HANNAH ELMER Wid- ow of Theophilus Elmer Esqr who died Septem- ber the 27th 1783 Aged 53 Years In Memory of TIMOTHY ELMER ESQ Who Exchanged Time for Eternity May 16 1780 Aged 32 Years In Memory of WILLIAM RAMSEY ELMER Son of the Hon b J. Elmer & Mary his wife who died Nov 6th 1784 Aged 4 Years & 7 months by his side lie 4 more of their children who all died in early infancy 14 INSCRIPTIONS. In Memory of David Fithiau who departed this Life February 23d i754 In the 45th Year of his age In Memory of HANNAH HARRIS who departed this L,ife Nov r 14th 1784 Aged 64 Years and 8 months In Memory of ISAAC HARRIS who died Oct 17 75 ( Stone broken, inscription partly gone.) In Memory of JEREMIAH HARRIS who departed this Eife Feb ry the 22d 1755 in ye 35 Year of his Ag2 In Memory of Mrs SUSANNA HARRIS late the beloved Wife of Capt Thomas Harris who departed this Eife April 2 1774 In the 62 Year of her Age In Memory of SUSANNA HARRIS who departed this Eife Nov rye 14th 1784 Aged 64 Years & 8 Momths T H died February 15th 1759 Aged 5 Years Here Eyes the Body of THOMAS HARRIS Jun who Departed this Eife Feb 6th 1759 Aged 29 Years In memory of Capt Thomas Harris who departed this life April 27th 1783 Aged 72 Years & 5 Mo V. H. died Feb ry 25 1759 Aged 3 Years In Memory of JONATHAN LORANC who departed this Eife February 19th 1774 In the 41 year of his Age W M died August 30 1769 Aged 9 Months W M died August 27 r77o Aged near 2 Years In Memory of William Meek who departed this Eife December 23 1773 Aged 48 Years INSCRIPTIONS. 15 In Memory of ABIGAL NIXON the Wife of REUBEN NIXON who departed this Life December the 25 1770 in the 21st Year of her Age In Memory of Reuben Nixon who departed this Life October 29 1773 Aged 27 Years In Memory of JEREMIAH NIXON who departed this Life August the 2d 1766 Aged 50 Years & 6 Mo In Memory of JONATHAN ORANGE who departed this Life February 19th 1764 In the 41st Year of his Age Here lieth the Body of ABDON OGDEN who departed this Life March 3d 1773 Aged 23 In Memory of DAVID OGDEN ESQ who departed this Life December ist 1760 Aged 53 Years In Memory of HANNAH the wife of David Ogden who departed this Life April 29th 1742 In the 36th Year of her age In Memory of JOHN OGDEN ESQ who departed this Life December 22 1745 In the 75 Year of his Age In Memory of JOHN OGDEN JUN ESQ who departed this Life May 10 1759 Aged 52 Years In Memory of JOSEPH OGDEN ESQ who died July 21 1772 Aged 48 years In Memory of SARAH the wife of Thomas Ogden : who departed this Life March 23 1760 Aged 38 Years In Memory of THOMAS OGDEN Junr who died January 10 1768 Aged 25 Years l6 INSCRIPTIONS. In Memory of VIOLETTA wife of THOMAS OGDEN who departed this Life November g 1760 Aged 24 Years In Memory of ZEPHANIAH OGDEN who departed this Life March 24 Aged 52 Years In memory of ZEPHANIAH OGDEN who departed this Life March 20th 1771 In the 30th Year of his Age In Memory of RUTH wife of Capt DAVID PAGE who departed this Life March the 30th 1777 in the 29 year of her age In Memory of Benjamin Parvin who Dep rd this Life March ye 28 1755 Aged 31 years Here Lieth the Body of THOMAS PARVIN who Departed this Life August ye 28th 1743 Aged 80 Years i month & 3 days In Memory of Israel Petty Jun r who died Oct II 1763 In the 34 Year of his Age In memory of DAVID POWELL who died April 24 1772 In his 38th Year In Memory of RICHARD POWELL who departed this Life September 9th 1764 Aged near 36 Years Richard Powell Died Sept 9 1764 Aged near 36 Years For Family Record see County Clerks Office Book i Misl Records Page 357 ( On a large stone near the original grave stone. ) In Memory of Levi Preston who Died Jan ry 17th 1752 Aged 91 Years Ephraim son of the Revd Wm Ramsey & SARAH his Wife died Jan y 28 1765 Aged 9 Months INSCRIPTIONS. 17 Beneath this Stone lies interred the Remains of the Rev'd WILLIAM RAMiSEY, M. A For sixteen years a faithful Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of this Place Whose superior Genius and native Eloquence Shone so conspicuously in the Pulpit As to command the attention and Gain the esteem of all his Hearers In every station of Life he discharged His duty faithfully He lived greatly respected And died universally lamented November 5th 1771 in the 39th year Of his Age In Memony of DAVID SAYRE ESQ who departed this Life April nth Anno Domini 1767 And in the 47th Year of his age In Memory of EPHRAIM SEELEY Esquire who departed this Life June the 22d 1774 Aged 62 Years "^ Here was deposited the Bodv of SARAH SMITH Successively the Wife of the Revd William Ramsey of this Place & the Revd Dr Robt Smith of Pequia She was highly distinguished for the exercise of the Estirnable and amiable qualities in various relations of wife mother friend and Christian Having survived her last worthy husband a few yi^ars In great weakness of bod%, , . ^ ^ ^r* she fell asleep in Jesus * -"^^ '^.. ■'■ August 9th i8or aged 63 years l8 INSCRIPTIONS. In Memory of ROHADA the wife of Henry Sparks who died December 28th 1760 Aged 25 Years Here lieth the Body of Preston Straiten who departed this lyife November iSth 1759 Aged 1 8 Years In memory of BENJAMIN STRATTON who departed this Life July 20 1750 (or 1751 ) In the 50 Year of his age In Memory of Benjamin sou of Benjamin and Sarah Stratton who departed this Life Oct j?